Only if For the Night- Florence and the Machine

London 1899

I groaned as I felt the huge bump forming on my head. I realized that I wasn't in my room anymore. I was in an alley. I get up carefully and looked around. It was raining. I called out fearfully: "Mama! Dad!" no answer. Feeling the panic setting in, I run out of the alley shouting: "Mia, Cassie! Nick! Marteeeen!" I shiver when no one answers me and saw a light in the distance, squinting I see that the light is a clock. Soon outlines form and I gasped out in shock. It was Big Ben. I wasn't in Virginia anymore. I start to shriek senselessly at myself: "This not happening. Crap! I'm in London. Oh God help me. Where is everyone!" I run into the street which seems disturbingly huge. I hear a car race toward me as head lights blinded me. I screamed as the vehicle approached and I raced left and then right. All of a sudden the giant horses clomp over me. I scurry away from the giant hooves as a carriage races passed. It was humongous. Did I shrink or did my head receive a concussion. Turning around I run into a glass bottle that was three times my size. "Oh noooo!" I saw my reflection. I had tan fur all over my body, a tail, and a messy mop of black hair on my head. I'm a mouse. I backed up from my reflection in horror. I was covered in fur…what the ************************************************!

I started hyperventilating. It's alright I thought This must be a dream. To test this theory I tried my old walking on air tricks I did in my dreams. I ended up on my tail. Literally. I tore at my hair when I realized I felt pain. All of a sudden someone grabbed my shoulder and purred: "Are you lost dear?"

I jumped about a foot in the air to turn around with a shriek and saw a hulking, stooped figure reaching for me with a clawed hand while leaning on a cane. "No-no thank you," I trembled.

He chuckled as he jumped forward. With a yelp I ran for it. Fear pumped my lungs as I raced on all fours. My large ears heard the clumsy scampering behind me. I saw some stairs, I quickly went up them and crazy with fear I scaled the wall until I was on the window sill. I hid in the corner until I heard the scampering of my pursuer die away. I still didn't feel safe and went with my instincts to climb even higher. Before I knew it, I was on the roof. I looked down in horror at how high up I was. The rain was pelting me even harder. The realization finally settled in as I cried; placing my head on my knees that I brought to my chest. I looked up at the sky and shouted: "Help me!"

I started to think of ways to escape this strange place as I remembered my previous dreams as well as the movie Inception. The way to get out of a dream is death or movement of your physical body. Body was out of the drawing, seeing that I couldn't remember falling asleep. Death, I shivered realizing that was the alternative; I stood up and looked down off the edge. It was a loooong way down. I closed my eyes and thought about my sisters and brothers and getting back to them to tell them of this nightmare. With a whimper I lifted one leg up to step off. I screamed when someone tackled me. Thinking it was the stalker I kicked and screamed. The figure who held me down shouted out in a English dialect: "I could use some help Dawson!"

Dawson? My eyes burst open as I saw the person—er mouse, that was holding me was Basil of Baker Street. My mouth gaped as I stared at him. There was no way, no way, that my childhood hero from my Disney movie adventures was holding me to the roof and staring at me in a mixture of worry and determination. "I'm right behind you Basil." A stout mouse called out while racing to Basil's side.

Irony has a sense of humor. I thought dryly as Basil lifted me to my feet.

"What did you think you were doing?" Basil snapped while holding me at arm's length and glaring at me.

I tried to speak, but shut my mouth again. I had the feeling that Basil was as judgmental as ever.

"Basil, you're scaring the poor girl." panted Dawson.

"She was going to leap off the roof Dawson." retorted Basil.

Dawson's eyes widened, but he continued: "Do you think yelling at her will convince her that we'll help her?"

Basil blinked and sighed as he turned toward me. "I am going to let go now Miss, but if you take a step toward that edge I'll have to deal with you once again. Is that clear?"

I nodded as he slowly released me. I rubbed my arms as I shivered and I stared at them in wonder.

"What were you trying to accomplish miss…?" Basil impatiently waited for her to answer.

I could barely speak above a whisper as I answered: "I was trying to escape…"

Dawson and Basil looked at each other: "From what madam?" asked Dawson kindly.

"From this creature…he tried to grab me so I ran." Remembering everything else I burst into tears. "I'm lost, I don't know where I am. I can't get back home." I soon started coughing so hard I fell to my knees. The coughs shook my chest painfully as I felt a gentle hand pat my back. I was stunned when Basil scooped me up and told Dawson. "We'd better get her inside Dawson."

I sat in front of the fire that dried my tan fur and brought the heat back into my flesh. When Basil carried me through the door of his flat, his maid, Mrs. Judson screamed:

"Good heavens! Mr. Basil what happened!"

Basil pushed passed the flustered maid as Dawson explained everything to her. He quickly set me down and took my numb hands and rubbed them between his own to warm them. The action shocked me, that Basil would be concerned of the simple detail of warming my hands instead of trying to figure out who I was and who was my stalker. Mrs. Judson threw a quilt over me as Basil went somewhere else.

Sipping on the white tea and honey (my favorite) which Mrs. Judson gave me, I watched as Basil and Dawson whispered about me. I noticed that Basil didn't change a bit; he had the same tall, slim figure. Dawson however wasn't as stout as before but still had the familiar round stomach and kind brown eyes. The two detectives would momentarily glance at me before resuming their conversation. Hating that I must have seem like an insane invalid, I tried to stand. This of course caused me to stumble, until Basil skyrocketed over and caught me before I fell. Unfortunately, my tea spilled onto him. With a yowl, Basil threw me onto a red cushioned chair as he hissed at the huge tea stain that scorched him. Feeling terrible I stood up to help him: "I'm so sorry—" I tripped on my quilt and fell onto Basil. We both fell into a heap on the floor. "Sorry." I squeaked as Basil stared at me with wide eyes as I rolled off of him. Basil jumped up as Dawson helped me back into the chair.

"Quite," Basil cleared his throat while avoiding to look at her. "Quite alright miss…" he sighed when he realized he never got her name.

I felt like giving him my real name would only make this situation too personal, so I went with my middle name: "Rosalie,"

"Miss Rosalie." Basil nodded as he sat down in the chair opposite of me to begin his next question. "Tell us what happened, pray be specific, the slightest detail can give us a clue to what happened to you."

His emerald eyes focused on me, but all I can do is shake my head sadly. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you, or you'll think I'm insane."

"Try me," he smirked.

And so I did, but both detectives gave me a look that said: Oh great, she is insane.

"And why did you think that suicide would help you…?" Basil cautiously questioned.

I heard the blood pump in my ears in anger as I snapped: "I'm not crazy! There was a theory that the only way to escape a dream is if you wake up or you die in the dream!" I shut my mouth and cursed myself for saying something else that labeled me as a loon.

Basil and Dawson looked at each other and back at me again.

"I'm afraid, Miss Rosalie, this is all quite real."

Basil, Dawson, and Mrs. Judson went into the kitchen to talk about me while I sat in the parlor alone. Looking around the familiar machines and objects lifted my damp spirit. The magnify glass, chemistry set, messy piles of scattered papers, and other trinkets brought me back to my childhood years of watching the Great Mouse Detective. My ears lifted when I heard Basil angrily whisper: "Blast it all, we can't send her to Parkinson's!"

"Mister Basil she needs help," implied Miss Judson worriedly.

"Maybe the asylum could test her to make sure she is alright?" Dawson patiently imposed.

At this point I was leaning against the wall as I listened to their debate. When Dawson said asylum, my heart skipped a beat as I backed away from the wall. Shaking, I realized that I couldn't stay here. I scampered to the door, while holding onto the quilt for dear life; feeling bad that I was stealing their blanket. When I rushed out the door and down the side walk, the door reopened behind me as I saw Basil run after me, I tried to run away, but Basil was quick as he picked me up. I struggled pathetically and cried.

"Miss Rosalie, I suggest that you should stop struggling." Basil huffed while trying to drag me inside.

"No!" I squeaked. "You're trying to send me off to an asylum! Do you know what they do to mice like me." I remembered the freshman industry history lesson on how asylum workers would mistreat and take advantage of their patients, especially women patients. "They'll abuse me or worse. I can't fight back, I'm not strong enough, please don't send me there Basil. Please!" I stopped struggling in Basil's lean arms and begged: "Please Mr. Basil, you're the only one that can help me."

Basil just held me for a while as the mist swirled around us, finally with a sigh he places me on the step at his door and stared down at me sternly. He soon gets out a pipe and lights it. He puffed the smoke as he watched me carefully. I sneezed causing him to jump in surprise. Running a hand through his hair he finally spoke: "If I let you stay, you have to do exactly what I say." I was about to thank Basil a thousand times when he shushed me. "Miss Rosalie, if you do one thing, step over the line in any way—"

"Oh no Basil, I'll do everything you say!" I jumped up and embraced the tall and valiant mouse. He grunted in surprise as the pipe tumbled out of his mouth and into a bush. I only came up to his shoulder, so my arms wrapped around his torso as I hugged him. I wouldn't normally do this, but I was so happy and relieved that I can trust someone to get me home. Basil hesitantly placed his arms around me also and hugged me back. All of a sudden, he plucked something from my shoulder. "Hello," he muttered. "What do we have here?" He holds up a grey hair and beams at it madly; he quickly goes inside and drags me along. When Mrs. Judson and Dawson see us they let Basil race over to his lab while they stared at me. I look down at my feet in embarrassment, only to realize that I wearing nothing but a nightgown and a thin chiffon. I felt my face redden as I crossed my arms over my chest insecurely. Mrs. Judson quickly covers me in a burgundy robe while asking: "Mister Basil?" Basil ignores her as he places the hair on a glass slide and into his microscope. "Mister Basil?" she barked. Basil waved his hand dismissively and asked:

"What?"

"I take it that Miss Rosalie is staying with us?"

"Of course," Basil replied matter of factly.

Mrs. Judson tapped her foot impatiently and inquired: "Care to show her where she'll be staying?"

"No, you can do it Mrs. Judson." Basil started adjusting the scope.

Mrs. Judson sighed impatiently and grabbed Basil and turned him toward me.

"As her host and temporary guardian Basil, show some compassion to this lady!"

Basil snapped; angry to be interrupted from his work. "I can't go around and lead this girl like a lost dog; I have too much to do. Now if you don't mind I need to analyze this hair if we ever wish to find out anything!"

Basil throwing me off to do his work made me feel upset for some reason. Unfortunately everyone saw that I was bothered, and Basil frowned and realized his mistake. "Miss Rosalie," he began. "I-" Basil quickly walked over to me and took my arm in his. "This way," he muttered, feeling much abashed.

Mrs. Judson smiled that Basil came to his senses and went off to the kitchen to finish cleaning.

I tried to keep up with Basil's long strides as we went upstairs, but I lost my footing and almost stumbled down the stairs. Basil's eyes widened in alarm as he caught me and held onto me.

Dawson allowed himself a small smile as he watched the exchange between Basil and Rosalie, he never saw his friend act in such a way. He chuckled at the thought that Basil of Baker street could be falling for the young woman. Dawson then took his bowler hat and left to go home to his flat that was right beside Basil's.

"Sorry," I apologized as he helped me up the stairs. I felt terrible that my clumsiness was causing all sorts of mayhem for him.

Basil sighed and shook his head in frustration. "Please pay attention Miss Rosalie, for the love of God, pay attention."

I looked down in shame. Noticing my expression Basil sighed again. "I apologize Miss Rosalie, but I'm just trying to piece all of this together. I'm afraid my emotions are getting the better of me." He stared straight ahead letting his thoughts consume him.

I looked at Basil in confusion, Basil was arrogant, impatient, and eccentric, but he never lost control over his emotions. "Pardon, but what do you mean your emotions are getting the better of you?"

Basil started from his thinking to look at me and stutter. "I-I, oh never mind, it has been a precariously long night."

I simply nodded in agreement again as he opened the door for me to a guest bedroom. It was really nice, a blue room with white edging and a giant bed with royal blue pillows and sheets. I walked in and was instantly reminded of my grandmother's room, which was strangely similar. Basil cleared his throat and said: "Well, I shall let you retire my dear."

I turned to him and gave him a small smile. "Thank you so much, for all of this, if you didn't find me…I don't know what would have happened. I guess you're still my hero Basil."

Basil smiled at me and replied. "All in a night's work Miss Rosalie." He shuts the door and leaves me alone in my temporary home. Home, I sniffled sadly when I realized that home was not only across the ocean, but across a century. Fear gripped me when I thought of my brothers and sisters, all alone at home. Marten can take care of them, but when will I see them again?